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Mercedes-Benz turning out new fenders for vintage Gullwings

The body panels, reproduced using 3D scanning, top out at $23,000 each

Nicholas Maronese
May 04, 2018  •  November 13, 2020  •  1 minute read  •  Join the conversation
Replacement parts for the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” (W 198, 1954 to 1957): Numerous key parts are available in genuine factory quality. Photo of presentation at Techno Classica 2018.
Replacement parts for the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” (W 198, 1954 to 1957): Numerous key parts are available in genuine factory quality. Photo of presentation at Techno Classica 2018.

Mercedes-Benz has begun reproducing floors, panels and fenders for its iconic 300 SL sports car in an effort to make restoration and repair of these rare cars easier.

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The parts have been rebuilt using tooling formed from 3D scans of original 300 SL “Gullwing” bodies, the German automaker says, though that doesn’t mean the new piece will simply bolt-on.

The fact the cars were hand-finished back in the day means some finesse is still required for a perfect fit. Of course, the relative accuracy does take a little stress off of whichever coachbuilder you’ve requisitioned to do your bodywork.

The prices for the parts run all the way from $4,500 for the center section of the rear end to $ 22,900 for a rear fender panel. Mercedes-Benz also recently announced it’d tap the original manufacturers of the cars’ upholstery to resume production, too, making restoration easier still.

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